NAIROBI — A political storm is brewing in Kenya’s Parliament as a group of lawmakers pushes for the removal of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over remarks they say promote extra-judicial killings.
The move is being led by Gitonga Mukunji, the Manyatta MP, who on Saturday accused Murkomen of crossing a dangerous line after he allegedly instructed police to shoot protesters on sight during last week’s anti-government demonstrations.
“This Parliament must stand firm,” Mukunji said while addressing a prayer event at Embu University. “The Interior Cabinet Secretary has overstepped his mandate by issuing unconstitutional directives that endanger lives. We cannot sit back and watch.”
Mukunji is backed by fellow MPs from the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), who argue that Murkomen’s comments amount to a direct assault on the Constitution and the rule of law. They claim that the recent wave of protest violence was met with disproportionate force, pointing fingers at the state for fuelling the unrest.
“The CS has no authority to order police to shoot and kill,” said Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia. “Such orders violate the Constitution and must be condemned.”
Their remarks follow footage from June 25, when nationwide protests turned chaotic, with businesses looted and several police stations reportedly targeted. Murkomen, speaking after the incidents, did not mince his words. In a widely circulated video, he is heard saying:
“Mtu yeyote atakaribia police station piga yeye risasi… Mtu mwenye anaenda kuiba bunduki, abembelezwe? Bunduki sio mandazi!”
Loosely translated: “If anyone comes near a police station, shoot them. If someone wants to steal a gun, should we plead with them? A gun is not a doughnut!”
The remarks sparked outrage from civil society, opposition leaders, and even members of his own political camp. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now DCP party leader, described Murkomen as “a young, excited CS full of himself because of money and power,” adding that the comments were dangerous and could expose police officers to criminal prosecution.
“This kind of language from a Cabinet Secretary is reckless,” Gachagua said. “He is setting officers up for legal trouble and putting innocent lives at risk.”
Critics argue that the shoot-to-kill directive signals a troubling turn in the government’s handling of dissent. They claim that rather than addressing protesters’ concerns, authorities are choosing to silence them through intimidation.
The Interior Ministry, however, has pushed back. In a statement released Saturday, Murkomen defended his position, saying his words had been misinterpreted. He insisted that he was referring to situations where officers’ lives were in imminent danger.
He cited Section B(1) of the National Police Service Act, which allows the use of firearms in self-defence or to protect others from serious harm.
Still, legal experts and rights groups argue that the law does not grant blanket permission to use deadly force against civilians, even in tense protest situations. Amnesty Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya have both demanded a formal inquiry.
In Parliament, Mukunji admitted that pushing the impeachment motion through may prove difficult. “Let’s be honest, Parliament has largely been captured. But we must try,” he said, alluding to the influence the Executive still holds over a majority of lawmakers.
If the motion gains traction, it could mark a major test for President William Ruto’s administration and its stance on police accountability and freedom of expression.
